Hello everyone, I am going through and rewriting my chapters. For those of you who have been with me since I started this story thank you go much for your support and encouragement to continue this story. Most of you already know what is to come but re-read these new chapters. I am going to be changing things up in each chapter; I want to make it longer and include things that I didn't the first time around. For those of you who are just joining welcome to my story I hope you enjoy it and leave me a review:). Thanks so much and without further ado Chapter 1.
I lay awake in the cool early morning; it is far too early for me to be up but the thought of what the day will bring is keeping me awake. It's my first day back at work since my honeymoon with my Adonis of a husband.
I roll onto my side and gaze at him, he truly is one of the most beautiful people that I have ever known. His unruly copper hair sticks up in a million directions, the duvet only covers his lower half showing off his abs. I brush a strand of hair from his face and his lips part as a sleepy huff escapes him. I closed my eyes and listened to his steady breathing, I just start to doze off again when his alarm screeches starling me to full alertness.
Glancing up at my husband again I see that he is staring at me with a shy smile gracing his lips. I find myself giggling at his expression then I stretch my body up against his. He moans then laughs as he pulls me to his chest.
"Good morning baby", his voice is thick with sleep.
"Morning", I say.
"Do you really have to go back to work? You could stay here, with me, we can spend all day in bed", he winks at me.
"I don't want to fight about this again Christian, you know that I don't want to sit around here all day for the rest of my life. Besides I have been away for months on our honeymoon and that doesn't earn me any points with the boss", I tell him.
"Okay okay, I don't want to argue with you either; I just wanted to stay in our post marital bliss."
I touch his face and kiss his lips very softly, "I want to stay in our little bubble to, but we still need to face the real world babe."
His eyes fill with lust and a sinful smile plays on his lips, "You don't have to worry about earning points with the boss, you know because I am the boss." He gives me a cheeky swat on my butt.
I laugh at his playfulness this morning as I pull the blankets off me and jump out of the large bed. I turn and look back at Christian who is now sitting up staring at me. I've got him right where I want him I think to myself, my inner goddess is jumping for joy knowing what's to come. I pull the silk slip up by the bottom and over my head. I hear the gasp behind me, I drop the slip on the floor and I take a tiny peek at where Christian is sitting.
"Care to join me in the shower Mr. Grey?", I asking in my sultriest voice.
"Yes please" he's out of the bed at lighting speed, he picks me up and heads into the en suite that is connected to our room. My inner goddess squeals in delight giving herself a high five; Ana 1 Christian 0.
" So Christian," I ask while standing behind the counter in the kitchen, " What are you going to be doing today at GEH?"
Taking the pan that has his omelet in it, I move out from behind the counter and serve the food onto the waiting plate. Then from the fridge I grab vanilla yogurt and granola and take my seat right next to him.
"Well I have many mergers and acquisitions, the same old. I might have to head to New York later in the week if you'd like to go with me", he replies. Looking over to him I can tell he has a defensive demeanor, as if he is expecting to fight with me on the topic. I know that he doesn't like to be far away from me for too long and I feel the same. It worse for Christian because he will get horrific nightmares from his past when we don't spend the night in the same bed. Usually, I can pull him out of them on the rare occasion that he gets them when I am around.
"Christian that is going to be really hard on my job, I literally just got back from vacation," I point out.
"I know, but Ana I would really like you to occupancy me. I worry when you're not close," Christian sighs.
"Alright, I will see what I can do, but no promises," I concede. Christian gives he his megawatt smile and it's so infectious and I find myself grinning back.
"Would you like to join me for lunch perhaps?" I ask finishing my yogurt.
He looks up from his omelet and grins like a little school boy who was just told that he could have his favorite toy; obviously still happy about me going with him to New York. "Baby, I would love to join you for lunch. I will just have Taylor drop me off outside of Grey Publishing later, how does that sound?"
"Perfect." I tell him getting up from the breakfast bar.
Pecking him on the cheek I head to the bedroom to finishing getting ready. Living in Escala is like living in an Ivory tower, walls of white and extreme grandeur. The great room alone could be an entire apartment in and of itself. The couch in the middle of the great room makes a perfect right angle and seems to stretch endlessly in both directions. A striking black grand piano on the opposite wall towards the window provides the only contrast of the white walls. I smile remembering the first night he brought me here; and after we made love, I found him sitting at the piano playing a sad melody that calls to one's soul.
Dressed in a very simple skirt and blouse and a pair of high heels that I know will drive Christian insane I finish and head back to the great room where I find no Christian. Luke, my CPO, walks in and informs me that Mr. Grey has already left; and he was sorry that he didn't say goodbye, that something urgent came up at the office. I don't really enjoy having someone that follows me around everywhere I go. But Luke Sawyer and I have come to an understanding after our many months together. Now I see him as part of our little family here atop the ivory tower.
"Are you ready to go Mrs. Grey?" he asks me formally with this arms behind his back in typical military fashion. Sawyer, like many of Christians security team, is ex-military and it shows in a lot of his mannerisms on a day to day basis.
"Sawyer how many times do I have to tell you it's Ana," I pat his arm, "Yes I ready to go just let me go get my purse and jacket."
As we head out to the car I tell Sawyer about my plans for lunch today with Christian and that he should be at the office around noon. I also decide that while he is walking with me to pump him for information about Christian rushing off to the office.
"So Sawyer" I say dragging out my words, "Do you know what sort of emergency that Christian had at the office this morning,"
"No Ma'am, just that something had come up with one of his projects," Sawyer tells me. That makes sense Christian has been really stress out ever since we got back from our honeymoon about the shipping docks in Taiwan.
The rest of the ride to Grey Independent Publishing is rather silent; I mostly just check my emails to see if there is anything I need to be caught up on right away; when we arrive Sawyer reminds me that he will be outside my office should I need anything.
As I step through the entrance there are a couple cheers of welcome back that make me instantly blush. I sit down at my desk awed at the warm welcome that greeted me. There is a stack of manuscripts that fills up my whole desk. I took quite a bit of work with me while I was on my honeymoon; but there is still a lot to get done which makes me glad that I can just jump right back into my work.
I throw myself into my work so when I look up its almost noon already. I'm surprised that the transition was as easy as it was.
"Ana, well well well, long time no see." I can just feel the hair on my neck stick up. I don't even need to turn around to tell who it is, Jack Hyde. When I was first interviewed for this position I thought that he was really cool and that we would get along really well. But as time went on he started to creep me out. I never told Christian because he would go nuclear; I know I should probably tell Sawyer but it just seems a little silly. We all have to deal with people we don't like in life, no point in tattling to his bosses, bosses, boss.
"Hello Jack, how have you been?" I ask to be polite but I desperately don't want to speak with him.
"Good, I've been well, except my assistant decided to take a 3-month vacation" he replies with venom laced in his words. I am taken aback by his tone of voice and the true anger behind his words.
"I'm very sorry about that, I can assure you this is a one-time thing as it was my honeymoon." this conversation is not going well. When I said honeymoon anger again flashed in his eyes. I have got to get away from this unpleasant chat with Mr. Hyde. Just as I'm about to find some sort of escape from the conversation Sawyer walks through the door and I breath a silent relief. Sawyer glances between us and he does not look happy.
"Ana, Taylor and Mr. Grey are outside in the car waiting for you, Mr. Grey tried calling but you did not pick up." Sawyer is just radiating tension.
"Thank you Luke. If you will excuse me Mr. Hyde, I will be taking my lunch break now." I tell him and follow Sawyer out of the building. He stops me right before we make it to the SUV.
"Ana, is there something you would like to tell me about Mr. Hyde? Because his body language radiated anger and yours screamed uncomfortable," I sigh knowing this was coming.
"No nothing is wrong he just said something unpleasant is all and I would really appreciate it if you didn't mention this to Christian, please Luke." I give him the best puppy dog look that I can muster and he seems to take it.
"Okay but only if let me call you Mrs. Grey." I laugh at his compromise.
" Deal." I stick out my hand for his to shake which he does.
I get into the car that contains my husband and his CPO Taylor, I can clearly see the anger in Christian eyes and I know he saw me talking to Sawyer. If it has a penis and can talk to me Christian is jealous.
"What was that all about?" he asks not even trying to keep the malice out of his voice.
"Sawyer just wanted to talk to me about the new security now that we are back from the honeymoon." I only lie because I don't want him to get upset about something as trivial as a bad feeling that I got around one person.
He nods then turning his full body towards me he takes my hand.
"Where would you like to go for lunch?" he questions, my mercurial fifty is back.
"I was thinking we could go to the place down by the marina," I suggest. Christian agrees and Taylor takes off towards the coast.
"What's the plan for New York later this week?" I ask Christian once we get all settled in our seats at the seaside restraint. The view is incredible at this time of day; the snow has a light dusting over all of the boats docked at the marina. It's a rather sunny winter day which brings out fluffy clouds and clear blue skies for miles. Christian insisted that we sit by the window so we could have the best view of the rather odd contradicting weather today.
"Well unfortunately I will be in meetings the most of the time. But we should have a little bit of time to do some sightseeing if that's something that you would like to do," Christian tells me clasping his hands in front of his chest and leaning on his elbows on the table.
Rolling my eyes, I ask, "So you just want me to sit around the apartment like a good little girl till you're done?" Pfft as if I'm going to be that girl who just follows her husband around and does everything he says.
"Careful Anastasia, my palms are twitching," he gives me a look that screams dangerous seduction.
"Keep your hair on Grey," I tell him flashing my own filthy grin around, "I'll go do some fun touristy stuff while you're out doing your business stuff."
"Ana," Christian sighs.
"I'll be careful; I'll even bring Sawyer with me if it lowers your blood pressure," I grin at him and I can tell that he has conceded when he shakes his head and leans back in his chair. I give myself a mental fist bump.
Christian and I make small talk while we dine, talking about our days and some of the things that I want to see while we're in New York. Christian wants to leave late Friday night and be back before Sunday evening so I figure that'll I'll just take off early on Friday that way I'm not missing work right after getting back from a vacation.
While we eat we enjoy the coast that extends out from us soaking in the peacefulness of an average day. I reach out and take Christians hand enjoying the simplicity of it; looking over at my husband I can see the hearts and flowers in his eyes reflecting back at me.